State Government
Children’s Services ‘near collapse’ with shortage of low-paid caseworkers
“Throw money at it,” a Knoxville judge told state lawmakers. “I’m telling you right now, throw money at it. Tons of money at it.”
Ian Round
Ian Round is The Daily Memphian’s state government reporter based in Nashville. He came to Tennessee from Maryland, where he reported on local politics for Baltimore Brew. He earned a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Maryland in December 2019.
There are 432 articles by Ian Round :
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September 2022
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State Government -
Public Safety Tucker Carlson blames ‘Bill Lee and guilty liberals like him’ for violent crime in Memphis
Carlson characterized Lee as soft on crime in a monologue against criminal justice reform, which, he claimed, “means letting violent people out of prison early.”
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State Government Republican state Rep. Mark White running unopposed for reelection
The Democrats didn’t field a candidate in a district that used to be — before redistricting — one of the General Assembly’s most flippable.
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Public SafetyTBI data show rape kit turnaround times are long — and getting longer
It now takes the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation about 49 weeks to test the state’s rape kits, but some lawmakers hope to cut that time to 30 to 60 days.
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Elections Tennessee Libertarians’ uphill battle is made harder by extreme caucus
The Libertarian nominee for governor is a Black Memphian who says the party, which was overtaken this year by a caucus that is friendly with white nationalists and opposed to transgender people, has “broken (his) spirit.”
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Shelby County Voters could recall Shelby County Clerk under proposed bill
Under the current law, 15% of registered county voters have to sign a petition to get a recall question on the ballot. State Rep. Mark White (R-Memphis) wants to lower that to 1%.
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Education State asks court to throw out Shelby, Davidson school voucher lawsuit
The Tennessee Attorney General’s office asked a Nashville court to dismiss the case, saying the counties had lost all their relevant arguments.
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October 2022
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State Government Lawmakers doubling down on crime in upcoming session
Many of the proposed bills would increase penalties for rape, kidnapping and other violent crimes and require the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to test rape kits faster.
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Elections Proposed amendment would ban slavery as punishment for a crime
The Tennessee constitution states “that slavery and involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, are forever prohibited in this state.” The third constitutional question on the Nov. 8 ballot proposes deleting the exception.
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State GovernmentAs lawmakers review sentencing policy, victims’ rights advocate says more laws not working
A victims’ rights advocate told lawmakers that a punishment-first approach to incarceration is not working, and they should replace it with one that addresses the lingering effects of childhood trauma.
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Public Safety More prisons an option for Tennessee despite past problems
Tennessee passed a law similar to “truth in sentencing” in 1979. The law led to overcrowded prisons, rioting and millions in damage to state property. The National Guard was called in. The result was a federal consent decree and sentencing reform. Will history repeat itself?
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Elections Democratic nominee for governor details education platform
Jason Martin also said he supports legalizing and taxing marijuana.
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State GovernmentBusiness leaders support local air pollution monitoring
The Shelby County Health Department is in danger of losing its authority to monitor local air pollution as the state pressures the program to address understaffing, numerous audit findings and a permit backlog.
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ElectionsIn open state Senate seat, both candidates contrast with outgoing Brian Kelsey
Republican Brent Taylor says he wants to focus on crime and business, rather than culture wars. Ruby Powell-Dennis wants to flip the seat for the Democrats with a message of ending racial and economic injustice.
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State Government Tennessee Rep. Barbara Cooper dies
State Rep. Barbara Cooper, a Memphis Democrat first elected to the General Assembly in 1996, died Tuesday, Oct. 25, at 93.
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State Government Local lawmakers optimistic Memphis will get ‘fair share’ for sports venues
After the General Assembly gave the Tennessee Titans $500 million earlier this year to build a new stadium, local lawmakers are optimistic that the state will be as generous to Memphis in the interest of fairness.
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ElectionsYoungest Republican in state House faces District 97 challenger
The East Memphis district is one of only a handful where Tennessee Democrats think they have a chance to gain ground in the Republican-dominated General Assembly.
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November 2022
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State GovernmentGov. Bill Lee runs on Ford Megasite, other economic wins in low-key campaign
Lee’s term in office has been defined by several economic development wins, the main one being Ford Motor Co.’s decision to build an electric SUV plant at the Megasite of West Tennessee.
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Free to readers
ElectionsUnderstanding Tennessee’s proposed ‘right to work’ constitutional amendment
Tennessee voters have the opportunity to pass a constitutional amendment that would ban all-union workplaces and require unions to provide services for which workers do not have to pay.
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ElectionsTennessee private prison operator ramps up campaign spending
CoreCivic gave $107,490 to Tennessee politicians and PACs from July to September, the majority going to incumbent Republicans. The company has stayed in business despite a high murder rate and accusations of underinvestment in safety.
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Tennessee
ElectionsLee easily wins reelection for governor
Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee declared an early victory Tuesday, Nov. 8, long before most votes were counted.
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Tennessee
ElectionsRepublican Brent Taylor wins Kelsey’s state Senate seat, and incumbents win other General Assembly races
Incumbent candidates for every state legislative seat in Shelby County won reelection, and no open seats flipped from one political party to the other. Former Rep. Barbara Cooper won despite her death last month.
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State Government TBI requests $45 million budget increase to process rape kits faster, increase pay
The TBI — and the political leaders who fund it — became the targets of scrutiny this summer after The Daily Memphian reported on a rape kit that connected Eliza Fletcher’s alleged killer to a 2021 rape.
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State GovernmentProposed legislation would ban public drag shows, some treatments for trans youth
On Nov. 9, Tennessee State Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson (R-Franklin) introduced a bill that would ban drag shows in public and another that bans certain medical procedures and other treatment for trans youth.
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State GovernmentCould another consent decree help rebuild DCS?
Not long after it was established as its own department in the 1990s, DCS faced a lawsuit filed on behalf of a boy from Memphis. The class-action lawsuit dramatically changed the way the foster care system works.
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